A rule requiring large warehouses to offset pollution from the truck traffic they draw was implemented by the South Coast AQMD in 2021. The South Coast rule, also referred to as the "Warehouse Indirect Source Rule," aims to decrease dangerous air pollutants from warehouse operations, such as nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. The rule also targets associated mobile sources of pollution, including yard trucks, vehicles used to transport refrigeration equipment, and trucks used to convey items to and from facilities. On-site fixed equipment, such as diesel backup generators or manufacturing machinery, can be another source of pollutants.
The Warehouse Actions and Investments to Reduce Emissions (WAIRE) point system is a result of the South Coast rule. By investing in ZE and/or near-ZE technology, utilizing solar electricity, constructing onsite ZE charging or fuelling infrastructure, or installing filtering systems in approved buildings like schools, warehouses are now able to gain WAIRE points under the rule. Creating a unique WAIRE strategy or paying mitigation costs are additional ways to gain WAIRE points. By 2025, the regulation will apply to all warehouses larger than 100,000 square feet.